Background

Cancer is always unfair but sometimes its timing is particularly cruel.

Imagine for a moment that you’re a 23-year-young man on the brink of independent adult life. 

You’ve just completed university, landed a graduate position with a good company, moved into an apartment with your girlfriend, and you’re saving money for a dream overseas trip.

And then you find a strange lump on your shoulder blade …

In May last year, Jacques Mathot was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive cancer of the bone and connective tissue. The survival rate is approximately one in three for localised disease, but falls to just one in seven if the cancer has spread.

Like many young Ewings patients, Jac’s painful shoulder was initially misdiagnosed as a sports injury. By the time scans had been done, the tumour in his scapula was ten centimetres, and the cancer had spread to his pelvis and spine.

Jac immediately underwent high-dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy, a punishing regime which he endured with remarkable good humour.

After completing the 10 month program, Jac’s scans were clear but Jac’s oncologist knew from bitter experience that the cancer was highly likely to return. Hoping to find an option for further treatment which would prevent the cancer recurring they sent a sample of Jac’s primary tumour for Comprehensive Genomic Profiling.

The test revealed Jac’s tumour type revealed a genetic mutation which could be potentially benefit from treatment with a revolutionary new breast cancer drug called Enhertu. Remarkably, Jac's case is unique, and he may be the only Ewing sarcoma patient in the world at this time, undergoing treatment with this drug.

After six months of treatment with Enhertu, Jac’s scans remain clear and he has

focussed on living as normal a life as possible, despite undergoing treatment every three weeks.

But at $12,500 per dose, the treatment has been extremely challenging to fund. Enhertu is not currently covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for sarcoma, however discussions are underway with the provider to explore ways of reducing the financial burden on families. At this stage, it remains unclear what form (if any)  this support may take in the future.

Jac’s family and friends together with the profound  kindness of the community, have raised enough money for the first ten doses, however we have been informed his oncologist would like to continue treatment for at least six more doses to give Jac the best possible chance of beating this terrible disease.

And so, we are appealing for further support from the community. Even enough money

for just one more $12,500 dose of Enhertu could potentially make a difference to Jac’s cancer journey. 

The Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation will be doubling all donations up to $18,000.  

Please help us to give Jac the best chance to realise his hopes and dreams over a 

long and happy life.

The Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation (CRBF)

The aim of CRBF is to fund clinical research to find a cure for sarcoma, while raising awareness of sarcoma in the greater community in an effort to promote early diagnosis, and to provide support for sarcoma patients and their families.

CRBF is a charitable entity which operates entirely on voluntary expertise, and does not pay salaries.  All tax deductible donations go directly to the stated cause(s).

All monies raised through the CRBF portal will be directed to Jac's experimental treatment(s), associated costs incurred by the family, and for the specific support of the Mathot family whilst Jac undergoes treatment and beyond. Should there be any residual funds remaining, the family have generously requested  they be  directed to support those living with sarcoma.